The Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs have agreed to jointly rehabilitate 10 Nigerian girls, victims of human trafficking who were recently rescued in Ghana.
According to a statement issued and signed by the NAPTIP’s Communications Officer, Adekoye Vincent, NAPTIP and The Ministry struck this partnership during an official visit of the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, to the Headquarters of NAPTIP.
The visit followed viral reports of the trafficking of some Nigerian girls to Ghana for sexual exploitation.
During the visit, Kennedy-Ohanenye concluded plans to partner with the Agency for the long-term rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking.
In her speech, NAPTIP DG, Prof. Fatima Waziri–Azi, thanked the Minister for the visit and her support towards the sustained fight against human trafficking adding that the Agency has been very proactive, strategic, and deliberate in carrying out its mandates leading to the conviction of 29 human traffickers from January 2024 till date, 67 traffickers in 2023, 80 in 2022 and a total of 670 human trafficking convictions since the inception of the Agency including the rescue of over 23,000 victims.
Waziri–Azi said, “Even though the Government has a major role in tackling human trafficking, communities and families have an even greater role in tackling these issues. Regarding the girls in Ghana, we are in touch with the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Unit. The girls have been rescued and are safe. The perpetrator has been arrested, and I am also in contact with Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM). I am very delighted by the Minister’s visit this morning. From our conversation, we will definitely approach this issue in a more strategic way, in terms of prevention. Prevention is better than cure.”
She added, “I also want to emphasize to parents and young people that there is no free lunch anywhere; if it is free, then you are definitely the product. We know that everyone desires a better life, but wanting a better life does not mean you should not be discerning. When somebody comes and offers you Eldorado, please ask questions.”
In her own speech, Kennedy-Ohanenye, commended NAPTIP for its visible impact in tackling human trafficking in Nigeria and promised to join hands with the Agency for sustained rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking through the existing empowerment scheme that has been established by the Ministry.
The Minster said, “I came here to see my sister concerning the issue of the Nigerian girls trafficked to Ghana. We will join hands with NAPTIP to empower them, give them skills or send them to school”.
